From what she could tell, even in her half-awake state, she was no longer cold, nor wet, the light crackling of burning wood meeting her ears. Shifting in the confines of her blankets, the tan-skinned woman opened her magenta eyes to see that she was situated in a small room that was furnished with practically nothing save for a pile of straw and a burning torch centered in the middle of the room.

“...the drowned rat rises from the dead.”

Rainbow Dash turned to see two figures standing in the doorway, one dressed in red and one in purple. The woman who was garbed in violet and sporting a veil that concealed her mount and nose from view, yet her eyes bore an alluring but dangerous glint. The woman in red grinned, seemingly bemused by the transformed equine’s puzzlement.

“What is this place?” the rainbow-haired woman questioned, trying to rise from her sheets. “Where am I? How’d you-” She got no further as, when she tried to walk, she found her legs give out from underneath her, falling to the floor, face mere inches away from the torch. She drew back, yet found herself unable to rise from her sitting position, her body still incredibly weak.

“Well, for one thing, you may as well stay put, as what good will answering your questions be if you go and get yourself killed?” the woman in red teased, crossing her arms.

The woman in violet approached, Dash, noticing a sizable spear in her possession, her arms toned and muscled, indicating she knew how to use it well. Before the former pegasus could protest, she was yanked off the floor and to her feet, unsteady as they still were. Yet the woman simply held Dash there until she eventually got her bearings, apparently in no mood to wait for her recovery.

“I thought you told me to stay put,” Rainbow stated, a slight growl in her voice.

“Correct,” the woman in red responded. “But mainly so you don’t go anywhere we don’t want you to,” she explained. “We found you by the edge of Lake Hylia, half choked on water. I had assumed you were dead at first, yet you surprisingly showed signs of life.”

So these people were her rescuers? To an extent, perhaps she should’ve been thankful. Yet such a thing wasn’t exactly the easiest when one of them kept twisting Dash’s arm to keep her upright and standing.

“Although what surprises me most is the fact that none of this has washed out,” the woman in red stated, brushing her tan fingers through the former pony’s ponytail. “How much dye did you use to get it like this?”

“Dye?” Rainbow inquired. “Oh no, lady, this isn’t dye. It’s all natural.”

Her interrogator crossed her arms. “Either way, you still couldn’t keep the red out entirely, could you?” she asked, gesturing to the red stripe present in the colorful fibers. “Regardless, however you managed to accomplish getting such an array of colors, it ultimately doesn’t matter. At the moment, you’re needed.”

Rainbow raised a brow. “Needed?”

“Yes,” the woman in red answered. “Now that you’re awake, you’re due for a meeting with our King.”

Twilight Sparkle

“Mm?” the small stray ray of sunlight meeting her skin was enough to steadily rouse her from sleep, the indigo-haired woman rose from her bed to find Spike snoozing close by, her body having been an ideal source of warmth during the night. The door to the small room opened, revealing the nun from last night, already dressed in her ceremonial robes, this action caused the little dragon to shoot right up from his dreams.

“I’ve just had a word with the Princess’ Attendant,” the old woman said. “She’s waiting for you outside to escort you to the Castle.”

…

“Did you dream anything last night?” Spike questioned, he and Twilight set out of the Temple of Time, following the old woman who kept up the building.

“Aside from having the biggest jewel sundae ever, no,” Spike answered. “Although some of the sprinkles kinda tasted like feathers.”

“That’s cause I found you eating the pillow,” Twilight remarked.

“Oops.”

“Look alive! You’re in the presence of a servant of the Royal Family!” the nun called out, regaining the attention of her two guests. Leading them both out of the temple, the young woman and dragon came to see a figure with grey hair tied in a low bun and fierce, piercing ruby-red eyes with markings on her tanned skin. She wore what appeared to be a tight-fitting bodysuit with silver armor, boots, and it was clear that, as they approached, she was studying the both of them as if they were some undiscovered animal or creature never seen before. “Lady Impa, I present to you,” the old nun began, turning to face the youngest of the three women. “What was your name again?”

“Twilight, ma’am,” she answered. “Twilight Sparkle of Equestria.”

The figure raised a brow. “Equestria?” she asked. “Just how distant a land is this?”

“Um…that’s…sort of up for debate,” Twilight confessed. “I’m not exactly sure of it myself at the moment.”

The woman appeared unimpressed, crossing her arms and staring down at the younger of the two. “Those ears,” she observed, noting their pointed shape. “You have Hylian blood in your veins.”

“I do?” Twilight asked. “Oh, um, y-yes, of course!” she declared. “I mean, is there a reason I shouldn’t?”

The other woman, Impa, seemed bemused by the answer, a grin coming to her face. “It’s the only reason the council even considered allowing the Princess to have a teacher,” she explained. “Although, I can’t guarantee your…complexion won’t garner a few looks.”

Twilight didn’t understand. “What do you mean?”

“It matters not,” Impa ultimately said. “Your presence here won’t be for long, and you’ll stay mostly out of sight of those in town,” she explained. “Thus, I say it’s best I take you to the Castle now.”

Pinkie Pie

Blood was pumping through her entire body, a sharp slap to the back of her neck. Then, nothing.

Now, she found her senses slowly returning to her, along with the knowledge that she was still in potential danger. Bolting upward, Pinkie Pie found that the darkness of the night was gone, along with any signs and sounds that hinted at unfriendly and dangerous things following her. The morning had come, the sun beating down on her fair face and momentarily blinding her. But the presence of dawn, along with the chirping of birds and light skittering of squirrels and other critters indicated that whatever danger she had encountered, it had long past.

Come to think of it, she didn’t believe she was in the same location she had been in either. But last night, the forest had been so dark and twisted, she had little idea where she was going in the first place. Still, regardless, she knew she couldn’t stay here forever. She had to find help, or at least some form of a clue as to where the missing students were, otherwise…?

CRUNCH!

A branch had been broken underfoot, gaining the pink-haired girl’s attention, her wild locks bouncing as she whirled her head to the side. “Hello?” she questioned, blue eyes wide and peeled for any sign of intelligent life. Well, about as intelligent as herself. “Is anyone there?” she asked, yet again, she received no answer. “Well, if you can hear me, could you help me out?” no reply, yet she couldn’t help but feel that someone or something was there. Something that understood her. “I’m lost around here, and I’m looking for somepony. Well, that and some creatures too, but that’s beside the point,” she said. “I just…need help getting through here. Do you know how to?”

It was subtle at first, barely noticeable in the thick foliage, yet steadily, the rustling and shaking of leaves grew closer and more active. This pattern continued until, finally, a figure stepped out from the bushes, similar in height to Pinkie herself, and bearing the appearance of a child as well.

Her hair was short and green, and her clothes were seemingly sewn from green cloth with a dark turtleneck underneath her small dress. A pair of green boots and a green headband finished the girl’s attire, the only part of her that wasn’t green being her surprisingly vibrant, sapphire-blue eyes.

The girl parted her lips and began to speak. And, even more, Pinkie could understand her. “Are you a new Kokiri?”

Twilight Sparkle

“This place looks nice,” the transformed Alicorn remarked, violet eyes taking in the various buildings and structures surrounding her and her guide, noting the fountain that she had seen last night reflecting the sun in its clear, shimmering surface. “What is it called again?”

“Castle Town,” Impa answered. “It’s been completed but a short time ago, so everyone is still getting somewhat accommodated,” she informed Twilight. “Although, those that live here either can afford to, or run a business that’s critical for everyone else,” she continued. “The only exception is the Ranch outside here and by Kakariko.”

“Kakriko?” Spike questioned.

Impa raised a brow. “You taught this little one to speak?” she questioned Twilight. “I wasn’t aware dragons could learn the common tongue.”

“What? Of course, dragons can talk!” Spike protested. “There’s an entire region filled with dragons that can do it too!”

“Is that so?” Impa questioned. “Then your land of Equestria is quite different from ours. Dragons do no such thing here.”

The purple drake was puzzled. “They don’t?”

“Far from it,” the older woman answered. “There was actually an incident sometime before I was born where a dragon requested that the Princess of this land be given to it as a sacrifice.”

Both dragon and transformed Alicorn stopped in their tracks upon hearing this. “Wait,” the young woman stammered. “...what?”

“But that’s ancient history by this point,” Impa mentioned. “If you want more information about such things, you can find them in the Castle Library.”

“Library?” Twilight inquired, almost childishly excited. “Y-Yes, of course! Sorry to take up your time, I’ll just research later. Oh, if I may, Miss Impa.”

“...Impa shall do,” the older woman answered. “Now, shall we?”

The three continued on, the town just becoming active as the sight of the Castle soon became discernable in the distance.

Rainbow Dash

Whether she wanted to or not, it seemed that the transformed pegasus had no choice but to see the King of these women, having been led out of the small hut she had been in and out into what appeared to be an abandoned, deserted city in the middle of a barren wasteland.

“We’ve been advised to treat you lightly due to your injuries,” the woman in red informed Rainbow. “However, if you lag behind, we will force you to catch up.”

“Don’t worry about me,” Rainbow Dash assured her. “Uh, I don’t think I caught your name, Miss…?”

“Aveil,” the woman in red answered. “Although we don’t have time for introductions at the moment. For the time being, you’ve been summoned, and thus, your appearance before the King is the utmost precedent.”

“All right then, Aveil,” Dash replied. “Just why has your King summoned me or whatever?”

“Good question,” Aveil confessed. “Personally, I wouldn’t have bothered to pull you out of the lake in the first place.”

The rainbow-haired woman did a double take. “...I’m sorry, what?”

“That was Nabooru’s idea,” Aveil chuckled. “It wasn’t until we saw what you were that our King even bothered to allow you to be brought back here.”

“Nabooru?” Rainbow asked, turning to the woman in purple that was forcing her along from behind, Aveil walking in front of the three.

“Oh no, this is just some nameless guard,” the woman in red said with a dismissive wave. “Nabooru is with our Lord. Although, I would perhaps consider thanking her as well, considering she was the one that ultimately convinced the King to see you.”

“You’re so compassionate,” Rainbow answered with a roll of her eyes. Still, one thing perplexed her. “You said something about seeing what I was. What do you mean?”

“Hm? What do YOU mean?” Aveil redirected the question. “You mean to say you don’t know what you are?”

“...a human?” Dash asked.

“Not exactly,” Aveil said. “But it looks like you’ll have your questions answered soon,” she then gestured ahead, a towering, grand fortress of aged brick before them. “The King awaits you inside.”

Pinkie Pie

The pink-haired girl tilted her head. “Kokiri?”

“Yeah, Kokiri,” the green-haired girl responded. “Like, you know, a child of the Great Deku Tree?”

Pinkie was still unsure of what she meant. “Great Deku Tree,” she thought aloud. “Uh, they wouldn’t happen to have a scary face that can show up in various places at once, would they?”

The other girl was now the confused one. “Um, no,” she answered. “The Great Deku Tree is nothing like that,” she said. “If anything, he’s probably the one that can best answer your questions, if you have any.”

“Oh really?” Pinkie asked, growing a little more optimistic. “Well, if that’s the case, where is he?”

“Back in the Kokiri Forest, where I live,” the girl with green hair responded. “Although, if you’re a Kokiri, you should be there too,” she then began to examine her, as if she were some strange new specimen or animal. “Maybe you’re just a new one.”

“New one?” Pinkie Pie inquired.

“Still, if you are, then your seed landed rather far from where the others did,” the other girl mentioned. “Regardless, we should probably get you to the Great Deku Tree,” she took her hand, beginning to lead her through the dense woodland. “By the way, if you’re a Kokiri, then we should probably get to know each other,” she said. “My name is Saria. Yours?”

“Pinkie Pie,” Pinkie responded. “Of course, it’s short more for Pinkamena Diane Pie, but that’s a little long for ponies to say.”

Saria stopped in her tracks. “Ponies?” she asked. “What’s that?”

The pink-haired girl paused, wondering if perhaps that little slip would be causing her trouble. “Uh…yeah. It’s what I, I mean, what I’ve…seen, before I came here. In these woods.” she fibbed. Applejack would perhaps be a little disappointed, yet sometimes white lies were a necessary evil.

“Really?” Saria questioned, thinking on this for a moment. “Maybe some creatures from the outside are actually coming into the Lost Woods,” she mused aloud. “Either way, it’s not good for us to stay out here too long. This place can get a little peculiar if you go too far in.”

Rainbow Dash

While it was somewhat relieving to be free from the harsh heat of the sun beating down on her flesh, the interior of this fortress left much to be desired in the eyes of the brash former pegasus. An interior designer she was not, yet the furniture and decor were indicative of limited materials, having mostly been composed of ropes and colored feathers along with any other fabric that could be used in whatever twisted collage that hung on the wall.

Not to mention the sight of several animal skulls being proudly displayed brought a sickening sensation to her stomach, although she tried to conceal her disgust from her captors. If Fluttershy were here, she would probably flip, Rainbow thought, thoughts dwelling then on the yellow pegasus.

Her friend.

“All right, enough lollygagging,” Aveil said, gesturing for the guard to push Rainbow Dash forward. “The King is waiting.”

With little else she could do, and being robbed of her precious wings, the transformed pegasus continued walking through the winding corridors of the building, all the while letting her mind wander.

Wander to a place far from here, where the sun was a comfort instead of a burden, and the environment was inviting and homely. Where there were others like her that weren’t driven by such hostility.

A place where six familiar faces resided, and now were ripped away.

“Guys…” Rainbow muttered under her breath. “Where are you?”

Twilight Sparkle

There it was, the Castle.

Or, at least, a Castle. True, if she had to be honest, this Castle Town was no Canterlot, yet it was pleasant enough to where it could fit in as something of a Ponyville for the people here. The structure in itself was a brilliant ivory with blue rooftops that came to a pointed head, surrounded by lush greenery and flora that, while plentiful, felt a little more maintained than that of the Everfree Forest.

“Halt!” A guard called out, resembling the two men stationed at the gate last night. “Who goes there?”

“Relax, soldier,” the older woman assured him. “I’m here with our dear Princess’ new teacher.”

“Hm?” he then noticed Twilight and Spike. “Ah, they already came?” he examined them more closely. “And they have a dragon for a pet?”

“Hey, I’m not a dog, you know!” Spike protested.

“It talks too?” the soldier questioned. “Now that must be magic!” his eyes then turned to Twilight herself. “Where do you hail from, my lady?”

“Equestria, sir,” Twilight answered. “It’s…quite distant from here.”

“Equestria,” the soldier pondered this name aloud. “Is your land known for its horses?”

“Um, you could say that,” Twilight replied, not entirely sure of what else to say. “They’re our pride and joy, after all!”

Impa chuckled. “Is that so?” she questioned. “If that’s the case, then perhaps you should visit the Ranch outside of Castle Town. It’s where all of our steeds were bred.”

“Steeds?” Twilight asked. “You mean…you ride them?”

“What else are the beasts for?” Impa inquired. “It’s not as if they can make conversation.”

Both Twilight and Spike exchanged a knowing glance with each other.

“Yet we are wasting time here. So, if you may, my good man,” the older woman requested the soldier to open the gate.

“Yes, of course, Lady Impa.” he responded.

With that, the bars parted, allowing for the three to access the area beyond, crossing over to a small bend where a tiny field of fertile green grass and plentiful flowers of pale yellow.

“Marigolds,” Twilight observed as she followed Impa along the path. “So, this place has some things in common with home after all.”

Pinkie Pie

“So, you’re a Kokiri?” Pinkie asked.

“That’s right,” Saria answered.

“And…so am I?” Pinkie inquired.

“Yes,” the green-haired girl responded. “At least, you look like one of us.”

“Us?”

“Yeah, didn’t you know?” Saria asked. “There’s more than just me,” she said. “We have a whole settlement where we live.”

“A settlement?” Pinkie thought about this. “So…has anyone else come through recently?” she questioned.

Saria pondered this. “From what I’m aware, no,” she shrugged. “But, still, I am curious about something.”

“Oh yeah? What’s that?” the pink-haired girl asked.

“Well, not to be rude, but…” Saria began, shifting a little in her position. “If you’re a Kokiri, then where is your fairy?”

Pinkie raised a brow. “Fairy?” she questioned. “Is that like a Breezy?”

“Breezy?” Saria asked. “Like the wind?”

“Well, no. That would be Windigos, I think.”

“Windigos?”

Pinkie parted her lips, about to speak, yet a voice shouting from afar caught both their attention.

“Saria?! Saria?!”

The green-haired girl turned her head. “What the…?”

“Saria!!!”

A small, glowing orb of green tore through the leaves of the bushes surrounding the two girls, kept airborne by a pair of insect-like wings affixed to their back. The glowing creature saw the two and immediately flew over to the one in front, clearly more than a little frazzled.

“Saria, there you are!” the fluttering thing shouted, flying close. “Where have you been?! We’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

Saria sighed. “Sorry, Compa,” she apologized. “But the Great Deku Tree said that she was still out here and possibly in danger. Besides, it’s not my fault you overslept.”

“Yeah, because I was watching over you!” the winged creature argued back. “Still, I’m glad you’re safe. But what do you mean the Great Deku Tree said…” they paused, noticing the other girl never seen before. “Oh, who are you?” they asked.

“Pinkie. You?”

“Compa,” the smaller being answered. “Saria’s guardian fairy.”

“Oh, so you’re a fairy,” Pinkie observed. “Hm…you’re not too far from a Breezy, to be honest.”

“Breezy?” the fairy asked.

Pinkie was about to answer, yet stopped upon hearing shifting in the bushes, everyone pausing and growing still.

Something or someone was coming.

Author's Note

Vacationing soon, so I'm trying to get various projects updated.